Highlighted Year: Bubba Phillips, 1961

Third Baseman, Cleveland Indians

Age: 33

2^nd season with Indians

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 5’9”    Weight: 180 

Prior to 1961:

A Mississippi native, John Melvin Phillips acquired his lifelong nickname of “Bubba” in his youth. A football star at Macon High School, he scored 235 points in nine games as a senior thanks to his production at tailback and placekicking. Receiving a football scholarship to Mississippi Southern College (now the University of Southern Mississippi) Phillips performed well in both football and baseball where he topped the school’s team with 36 hits in 1948. Viewing baseball as his better professional option, he signed with the Detroit Tigers in 1948 and the 20-year-old outfielder appeared in 11 games with the Stroudsburg Poconos of the Class D North Atlantic League where he batted .302 with a .348 on-base percentage. Advancing to Thomasville of the Class D Georgia-Florida League in 1949, Phillips hit .329 with 114 runs scored, 17 doubles, 11 triples, 12 home runs, 75 RBIs, 60 stolen bases, a .370 OBP, and a .458 slugging percentage. He also led all the league’s outfielders with 29 assists. Promoted next to the Flint Arrows of the Class A Central League in 1950, he batted .290 with 22 doubles, 15 triples, 6 home runs, 70 RBIs, 22 steals, a .332 OBP, and a .416 slugging percentage. Playing for teams at the Class A and AAA levels in 1951, Phillips hit a combined .314 with 27 doubles, 10 home runs, 43 RBIs, 20 stolen bases, a .361 OBP, and a .451 slugging percentage. In 1952, despite some interest in promoting him to the Tigers in the spring, he was sent to the Buffalo Bisons of the Class AAA International League for further seasoning. He batted .291 with 19 doubles, 14 home runs, 49 RBIs, a .337 OBP, and a .434 slugging percentage. Drafted into the Army at that point, Phillips missed the next two seasons. Having completed his military commitment, he joined the Tigers in 1955 and saw significant action in left field. Traded to the Chicago White Sox in the offseason for RHP Virgil Trucks, Phillips was used in all three outfield positions in 1956, typically as a defensive replacement due to his versatility and adept fielding. Appearing in 67 games he hit .273 with 8 extra-base hits and a .321 OBP. Shifted to third base in 1957 he batted .270 with 13 doubles, 7 home runs, 42 RBIs, and a .322 OBP while splitting time with Sammy Esposito and Fred Hatfield. Hindered by a slow start at the plate in 1958, Phillips then missed six weeks at midseason due to a broken right foot. Challenged by veteran Billy Goodman at third base, he ended up appearing in 84 games at third and in the outfield and hit .273 with 10 doubles, 5 home runs, 30 RBIs, and a .310 OBP. The White Sox went from contenders to pennant winners in 1959 and, splitting time with Goodman at third and playing 23 games in the outfield, Phillips contributed by batting .264 with 27 doubles, 5 home runs, 40 RBIs, and a .319 OBP. He started three games in the World Series against the Los Angeles Dodgers and came through with hits in all three although the club lost the Series in six games. In the offseason, with the White Sox wanting to increase their batting punch, he was dealt to Cleveland as part of a seven-player trade. Slumping at bat in 1960, Phillips hit only .207 in 113 games with 14 doubles, 4 home runs, 33 RBIs, and a .249 OBP.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 143 games

3B – 143

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 590

At Bats – 546

Runs – 64

Hits – 144

Doubles – 23

Triples – 1

Home Runs – 18

RBI – 72

Bases on Balls – 29

Int. BB – 4 [17, tied with eight others]

Strikeouts – 61

Stolen Bases – 1

Caught Stealing – 0

Average - .264

OBP - .305

Slugging Pct. - .408

Total Bases – 223

GDP – 14

Hit by Pitches – 5 [11, tied with four others]

Sac Hits – 7

Sac Flies – 3 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 16, HR – 13, RBI – 51, AVG - .285, OBP - .328

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) at Boston 7/2 – 10 innings

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

HR at home – 7

HR on road – 11

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 4 AB) at Boston 7/2 – 10 innings

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 5 vs. LA Angels 6/3

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 453

Put Outs – 188

Assists – 246

Errors – 19

DP – 23

Pct. - .958

Awards & Honors:

17^th in AL MVP voting, tied with Dick Donovan, Wash. (5 points, 2% share)

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The Indians went 78-83 to finish fifth in the AL, 30.5 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees while leading the league in hits (1493), doubles (257), batting (.266, tied with the Yankees), and fewest walks drawn (492). The Indians started well, moved into contention, and were in first place from June 6-16 before a seven-game losing streak dropped them out of contention. A rough second half, primarily caused by inadequate pitching, left them in fifth place and led to the dismissal of manager Jimmy Dykes.

Aftermath of 1961:

Phillips followed up with a 1962 season in which he dropped off somewhat in power production, batting .258 with 26 doubles, 10 home runs, 54 RBIs, a .289 OBP, and a .358 slugging percentage. Having developed into a capable defensive third baseman, he remained an unassuming presence on the club and was noted for his calm demeanor. That did not guarantee him security in Cleveland as he was traded to his original team, the Detroit Tigers, in the offseason to make room for promising rookie third baseman Max Alvis. In his return to the Tigers, he was the club’s primary third sacker in 1963, hitting .246 with 11 doubles, 5 home runs, 45 RBIs, and a .276 OBP. In 1964 he backed up young Don Wert at third and appeared in only 46 games, hitting .253 with a .327 OBP in his last season. For his major league career, Phillips batted .255 with 835 hits that included 135 doubles, 8 triples, and 62 home runs. He scored 349 runs and compiled 356 RBIs, a .297 OBP, and a .358 slugging percentage. With Cleveland he batted .249 and scored 151 runs with 352 hits, 63 doubles, 2 triples, 32 home runs, 159 RBIs, a .287 OBP, and a .365 slugging percentage. His participation in the 1959 World Series with the White Sox marked his only postseason action. Never an All-Star, 1961 marked the only year in which he received MVP votes. Following his retirement from baseball, Phillips was involved with real estate back home in Mississippi. He also became a tennis instructor and appeared in the Satchel Paige biopic “Don’t Look Back”. Inducted into the Mississippi Sports Hall of Fame in 1972, he died of a heart attack in 1993 at age 65.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

 

Highlighted Year: Jim Perry, 1961

Pitcher, Cleveland Indians

Age: 25

3^rd season with Indians

Bats – Both, Throws – Right

Height: 6’4”    Weight: 190 

Prior to 1961:

A native of Williamston, North Carolina, Perry pitched for his high school team and was eventually joined by younger brother Gaylord (who also went on to a long major league pitching career). The brothers alternated at third base when not pitching. Moving on to Campbell College, Perry was signed by the Indians in 1956. Assigned to North Platte of the Class D Nebraska State League he went 7-8 in his first taste of professional action with a 4.80 ERA and 124 strikeouts over 120 innings pitched. Moving along to Fargo-Moorhead of the Class C Northern League in 1957 Perry improved to 15-12 with a 2.88 ERA and 150 strikeouts over 231 innings. His next stop was Reading of the Class A Eastern League in 1958, where he produced a 16-8 record and 2.79 ERA with 135 strikeouts. Invited to spring training with the Indians in 1959, he made the pitching staff and was used primarily as a reliever during the first half of the season on his way to a 12-10 tally with a 2.65 ERA, 4 saves, and 79 strikeouts over 153 innings pitched. He placed second in AL Rookie of the Year voting. Fully in the starting rotation in 1960, Perry, who relied on a fastball, curve, and slider, tied for the league lead in wins with his 18-10 record. He also had a 3.62 ERA and 120 strikeouts while showing a tendency to give up home runs, leading the AL by surrendering 35 homers.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 35 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 35

Games Started – 35 [5, tied with Jim Grant]

Complete Games – 6

Wins – 10

Losses – 17 [3, tied with Bud Daley & Jim Kaat]

PCT - .370

Saves – 0

Shutouts – 1

Innings Pitched – 223.2 [13]

Hits – 238 [8]

Runs – 132 [2]

Earned Runs – 117 [1, tied with Frank Baumann]

Home Runs – 28 [6, tied with Ken McBride]

Bases on Balls – 87 [14]

Strikeouts – 90

ERA – 4.71

Hit Batters – 6 [12, tied with Don Schwall, Frank Lary & Gary Bell]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 5

Midseason Snapshot: 7-7, ERA - 4.17, SO - 44 in 116.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 6 (in 5 IP) vs. LA Angels 7/15, (in 5.2 IP) vs. Minnesota 9/17

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 4 (in 9 IP) at LA Angels 7/29, (in 9 IP) at Baltimore 9/2, (in 8 IP) at Chi. White Sox 5/9

Batting

PA – 79, AB – 73, R – 4, H – 12, 2B – 2, 3B – 0, HR – 0, RBI – 3, BB – 1, SO – 14, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .164, GDP – 2, HBP – 0, SH – 5, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 59

Put Outs – 17

Assists – 37

Errors – 5

DP – 5

Pct. - .915

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Indians went 78-83 to finish fifth in the AL, 30.5 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees. The Indians started well, moved into contention, and were in first place from June 6-16 before a seven-game losing streak dropped them out of contention. A rough second half, primarily caused by inadequate pitching, left them in fifth place and led to the dismissal of manager Jimmy Dykes.

Aftermath of 1961:

Having suffered from inconsistency in 1961, Perry broke even at 12-12 with a 4.14 ERA in 1962. Back in the Cleveland bullpen at the start of 1963, he was dealt to the Minnesota Twins in May and utilized primarily as a starter finished at 9-9 with a 3.83 ERA. Almost exclusively a reliever in 1964, Perry was 6-3 with a 3.44 ERA in 42 appearances. Working with new pitching coach Johnny Sain in 1965, he improved his fastball and curve and, when RHP Camilo Pascual was out for an extended period, Perry took his place in the rotation. For the year he appeared in 36 games, 19 of them starts, and compiled a 12-7 record with a 2.63 ERA. The Twins won the AL pennant and Perry made two relief appearances in the seven-game World Series loss to the Dodgers. Primarily a spot starter in 1966, he produced an 11-7 mark with a 2.54 ERA and 122 strikeouts over 184.1 innings. Sain departed for Detroit following the ’66 season, and Perry continued to be a starter/reliever in 1967 and ’68, posting an 8-7 tally with a 3.03 ERA in 37 appearances in ’67 and going 8-6 with a 2.27 ERA in 1968. In 1969, new manager Billy Martin put Perry in the rotation with good results, as he contributed a 20-6 record for the division-winning Twins along with a 2.82 ERA and 153 strikeouts. Another new manager, Bill Rigney, kept him in place as the ace of the staff in 1970 and he won the AL Cy Young Award with his 24-12 record, 3.04 ERA, and 168 strikeouts over 278.2 innings as the Twins won another division title. The Twins sank in the standings in 1971 and Perry’s record dropped to 17-17 with a 4.23 ERA and he again had problems giving up the long ball, surrendering a league-high 39 home runs. In 1972 he went 13-16 with a 3.35 ERA and he was traded to Detroit just prior to the 1973 season, reuniting him with manager Billy Martin. Martin didn’t last the year with the Tigers and Perry went 14-13 with a 4.03 ERA. Dealt back to Cleveland in 1974, Perry was now teamed with his brother Gaylord, and the Perry brothers won 38 games between them, as Gaylord went 21-13 and Jim added a 17-12 tally with a 2.96 ERA. The rest of the staff was disappointing, and when Jim got off to a 1-6 start in 1975, he was traded to Oakland, where he went 3-4 the rest of the way, including a one-hitter against Baltimore. Released in August, Perry retired. For his major league career, he posted a 215-174 record with a 3.45 ERA, 109 complete games, 32 shutouts, and 1576 strikeouts over 3285.2 innings. With Cleveland he was 70-67 with a 3.76 ERA, 39 complete games, 13 shutouts, and 452 strikeouts over 1131.2 innings. Appearing in five postseason games (two starts) he was 0-1 with a 6.75 ERA. He was a three-time All-Star and was inducted into the Minnesota Twins Hall of Fame in 2011.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Nap Lajoie, 1903

Second Baseman, Cleveland Naps

Age:  29 (Sept. 5)

2^nd season with Blues/Naps (first complete)

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’1”    Weight: 195 

Prior to 1903:

A Rhode Island native, Napoleon Lajoie (pronounced LAJ-way) was the son of a French-Canadian immigrant (and he thus was said to prefer the French pronunciation of his name as Lah-ZHWA). Due to his father’s early death, Lajoie had to drop out of school to go to work in a textile mill in 1885. Becoming interested in baseball, by 1894 he was playing semi-pro ball in the Woonsocket area while working part-time for an auctioneer. He later became a teamster while playing baseball on the side and became known locally as “the Slugging Cabby”. In 1896 he joined the Fall River Indians of the New England League where he played center field and batted .429 with 15 home runs before his contract was purchased by the Philadelphia Phillies for $1500. Converted to first base by the Phillies he appeared in 39 games and batted .326 with 12 doubles, 7 triples, 4 home runs, 42 RBIs, 7 stolen bases, a .330 on-base percentage, and a .543 slugging percentage. In his first full major league season in 1897 Lajoie led the NL in slugging percentage (.569) and total bases (310) while hitting .361 with 197 hits, 107 runs scored, 40 doubles, 23 triples, 9 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and a .392 OBP. In 1898 he was shifted to second base where the graceful fielder excelled defensively and led the league’s second sackers with 442 putouts. He also led the NL in doubles (43) and RBIs (127) while batting .324 with 197 hits, 113 runs scored, 11 triples, 6 home runs, 25 stolen bases, a .354 OBP, and a .461 slugging percentage. With a smooth swing that allowed him to hit to all fields with decent power while rarely striking out, Lajoie continued his development in 1899, although an injury limited him to 77 games in which he hit .378 with 19 doubles, 9 triples, 6 home runs, 70 RBIs, 13 stolen bases, a .419 OBP, and a .554 slugging percentage. In 1900 he was sidelined for five weeks as the result of a broken thumb suffered during a fight with teammate Elmer Flick. In 102 games he batted .337 with 33 doubles, 12 triples, 7 home runs, 92 RBIs, 22 stolen bases, a .362 OBP, and a .510 slugging percentage. Incensed upon learning that he was being paid $400 less than teammate Ed Delahanty (despite the preseason assurances by Phillies owner John Rogers that they would be paid the same), Lajoie jumped to the American League in 1901, signing with the Philadelphia Athletics. While the Phillies went to court to stop the deal, Lajoie played for the A’s in 1901 while the case made its way through the court system. He had an outstanding season as he won the batting Triple Crown by hitting .426 with 14 home runs and 125 RBIs. He also topped the new circuit in hits (232), runs scored (145), doubles (48), OBP (.463), slugging percentage (.643), and total bases (350). Prior to the 1902 season the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled that Lajoie could not play in the state for any other team than the Phillies. While he played in one game for the A’s at the start of the 1902 season, A’s president and manager Connie Mack arranged for his transfer to Cleveland in order to keep him in the American League, although he was forced to sit out any games played in Philadelphia. He again won the AL batting championship (.378) while also hitting 35 doubles, 5 triples, 7 home runs, and producing 65 RBIs, a .419 OBP, and a .565 slugging percentage. The peace agreement between the NL and AL in the offseason ended any claim the Phillies had on Lajoie. To great popular demand the club began to be called the Napoleons (shortened to Naps) in honor of its star player.

1903 Season Summary

Appeared in 125 games

2B – 122, 1B – 1, 3B – 1, PH – 1

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 525

At Bats – 485

Runs – 90 [7]

Hits – 167 [6]

Doubles – 41 [2]

Triples – 11 [15, tied with Charlie Hickman, Danny Murphy & Charlie Carr]

Home Runs – 7 [5, tied with Jimmy Ryan]

RBI – 93 [3]

Bases on Balls – 24

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 26

Stolen Bases – 21 [19, tied with Bill Bradley & Fielder Jones]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .344 [1]

OBP - .379 [3, tied with Billy Lush]

Slugging Pct. - .518 [1]

Total Bases – 251 [4]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 13

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading batting average was +.009 ahead of runner-up Sam Crawford

League-leading slugging percentage was +.022 ahead of runners-up Bill Bradley & Buck Freeman

Midseason snapshot: 2B –20, 3B – 4,  HR - 1, RBI – 34, AVG – .340, OBP - .367, SLG - .488

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) vs. Phila. A’s 7/2, (in 4 AB) vs. St. Louis Browns 7/23, (in 5 AB) vs. NY Highlanders 8/15

Longest hitting streak – 14 games

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 6

Most home runs, game – 2 (in 3 AB) at Washington 9/23

Multi-HR games – 1

Most RBIs, game – 5 at Washington 9/24

Pinch-hitting – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 804

Put Outs – 366

Assists – 402

Errors – 36

DP – 61

Pct. – .955

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The Naps (renamed for Lajoie) went 77-63 to finish third in the AL, 15 games behind the pennant-winning Boston Americans while leading the league in doubles (231), and batting strikeouts (588). The Naps entered June at 17-15 in the tightly bunched AL and continued to play well through the summer although they couldn’t keep pace with Boston and finished a distant third.

Aftermath of 1903:

In 1904 Lajoie topped the circuit in batting (.376), OBP (.413), slugging (.546), hits (208), doubles (49), RBIs (102), and total bases (302). Lajoie, also commonly referred to as Larry, missed some games in 1904 due to being suspended after an altercation with an umpire. He would miss more games in 1905 after a spike wound in one leg led to blood poisoning from the blue dye in his sock which nearly led to amputation. His leg recovered, and limited to 65 games, he hit .329 with a .377 OBP and .418 slugging percentage. By this point Lajoie was the player/manager of the Naps, a position that would have a negative effect on his batting production over time, although in 1906 he led the AL in hits (214) and doubles (48) while batting .355 with a .392 OBP and .465 slugging percentage. His manner of hand signaling pitches to his outfielders from behind his back was easily discernible to opponents and he lacked the ability to instruct his players in aspects of the game that came easily to him (a commonality with other great players who became managers). With a talented club he was unable to win the AL pennant as manager, although Cleveland was typically competitive. In 1907 he hit .301 with a .347 OBP and .395 slugging percentage and in 1908, a season in which the Naps closely contended for the pennant, he hit only .289 with a .352 OBP and .375 slugging percentage. During the 1909 season Lajoie resigned as manager as the club dropped to sixth place. Lajoie the player hit .324 with 33 doubles, 7 triples, a home run, 47 RBIs, a .378 OBP, and a .431 slugging percentage. He returned to top batting form in 1910, a season in which he became embroiled in controversy. Battling Detroit’s Ty Cobb for the AL batting championship late in the season, and with a new Chalmers auto to be awarded to the winner, Lajoie and the Naps played a double-header against the St. Louis Browns on the season’s last day and Lajoie trailing Cobb. St. Louis manager Jack O’Connor, not wanting Cobb to win, ordered his third baseman to play deep which allowed Lajoie to beat out seven straight bunts down the third base line for hits. He also hit a triple and one more bunt was ruled a sacrifice. Despite the effort to assist Lajoie, Cobb was awarded the batting title by the closest of margins although later research showed that Cobb was erroneously credited with two additional base hits. In 1981, following the discovery of the error, Commissioner Kuhn refused to retroactively award Lajoie the 1910 AL batting title even though the adjusted figures put him in front of Cobb, .383 to .382. Chalmers chose to award cars to both players, and although Lajoie initially resisted accepting the vehicle, his wife insisted and he received the car. In 1911 a tendon injury limited Lajoie to 90 games and he hit .365 with a .420 OBP. He stayed with Cleveland through 1914 when his average dropped to .258 due to declining eyesight. Sold to the Philadelphia Athletics, he played two last seasons in 1915 and ’16 as his production continued to drop. For his major league career, Lajoie batted .338 with 3243 hits that included 657 doubles, 163 triples, and 82 home runs. He scored 1504 runs and compiled 1599 RBIs, 380 stolen bases, a .380 OBP, and a .466 slugging percentage. With Cleveland the totals were a .339 batting average with 865 runs scored, 2047 hits, 424 doubles, 78 triples, 33 home runs, 919 RBIs, 240 stolen bases, a .389 OBP, and a .452 slugging percentage. Lajoie never appeared in the postseason. He was a minor league player/manager for a time and commissioner of the Ohio-Pennsylvania League. His record as a major league manager was 377-309. Lajoie was elected to the Baseball Hall of Fame in 1937. He died in 1959 at age 84.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Barry Latman, 1961

Pitcher, Cleveland Indians

Age: 25 (May 21)

2^nd season with Indians

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’3”    Weight: 210 

Prior to 1961:

A Los Angeles native, Latman began playing baseball at a young age and also regularly sang in a boys choir that appeared on television. He pitched for LA’s Fairfax High School, hurling a perfect game as a senior in 1954. He also received All-City honors from the Helms Foundation. Around this time Latman began to correspond with the all-time great hitter Ty Cobb, who had seen him pitch on television and thought he had excellent potential. Declining several bonus offers from major league teams, Latman went to USC on a baseball scholarship. There he came to be nicknamed “Shoulders” due to his broad-shouldered physique. In 1955 he signed with the Chicago White Sox. Initially assigned to the Waterloo White Hawks of the Class B Illinois-Indiana-Iowa (or Three I) League, the 19-year old hurler produced an 18-5 record and a 4.12 ERA with 14 complete games and 114 strikeouts over 203 innings pitched. Promoted to the Memphis Chicks of the Class AA Southern Association in 1956 he compiled a 14-14 tally and 3.85 ERA with 11 complete games and 155 strikeouts over 215 innings. Advancing to Indianapolis of the Class AAA American Association in 1957 he went 13-13 with a 3.95 ERA, 11 complete games, 2 shutouts, and 151 strikeouts over 221 innings which earned him a late-season call-up to the White Sox. In seven appearances, five in relief, his record was 1-2 with an 8.03 ERA. Latman learned to throw a slider in addition to his fastball. Returning to Indianapolis in 1958 he produced a 9-11 tally with a 4.62 ERA, 8 complete games, and 85 strikeouts over 150 innings pitched before being called up to the White Sox in August where he was utilized primarily out of the bullpen and went 3-0 with a 0.76 ERA and 28 strikeouts over 47.2 innings. Moved into the starting rotation at the start of the 1959 season, Latman performed poorly and was returned to the bullpen from where he relieved and occasionally started on his way to going 8-5 with a 3.75 ERA and 97 strikeouts over 156 innings pitched and included two big wins against Cleveland on the way to Chicago winning the AL pennant. He did not pitch in the World Series against the Dodgers. Just prior to the 1960 season he was traded to the Indians for LHP Herb Score. His 1960 performance was mediocre for the most part although he finished strong to end up at 7-7 with a 4.03 ERA and 94 strikeouts over 147.1 innings pitched.   

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 45 games

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Pitching

Games – 45 [16, tied with Hank Aguirre, Ed Rakow & Dave Sisler]

Games Started – 18

Games Finished – 12

Complete Games – 4

Wins – 13 [15, tied with Milt Pappas & Jack Kralick]

Losses – 5

PCT - .722 [4]

Saves – 5 [15, tied with Jim Archer, Jim Coates & Bill Fischer]

Shutouts – 2 [11, tied with twelve others]

Innings Pitched – 176.2

Hits – 163

Runs – 84

Earned Runs – 79

Home Runs – 23 [17, tied with Whitey Ford, Bud Daley & Jerry Walker]

Bases on Balls – 54

Strikeouts – 108

ERA – 4.02

Hit Batters – 5 [16, tied with four others]

Balks – 0

Wild Pitches – 6 [18, tied with seven others]

Midseason Snapshot: 8-0, ERA - 2.90, SO – 52 in 80.2 IP

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Most strikeouts, game – 7 (in 5.1 IP) at LA Angels 7/28, (in 6 IP) vs. KC A’s 5/28, (in 9 IP) vs. Minnesota 9/16

10+ strikeout games – 0

Fewest hits allowed, game (min. 7 IP) – 4 (in 9 IP) vs. vs. Minnesota 9/16, (in 7 IP) vs. Detroit 8/23

Batting

PA – 59, AB – 55, R – 2, H – 4, 2B – 0, 3B – 1, HR – 0, RBI – 1, BB – 3, SO – 17, SB – 0, CS – 0, AVG - .073, GDP – 1, HBP – 0, SH – 1, SF – 0

Fielding

Chances – 25

Put Outs – 10

Assists – 13

Errors – 2

DP – 2

Pct. - .920

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Indians went 78-83 to finish fifth in the AL, 30.5 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees. The Indians started well, moved into contention, and were in first place from June 6-16 before a seven-game losing streak dropped them out of contention. A rough second half, primarily caused by inadequate pitching, left them in fifth place and led to the dismissal of manager Jimmy Dykes. Latman won his first nine decisions primarily in relief.

Aftermath of 1961:

Starting in 21 of his 45 appearances in 1962, Latman posted a disappointing 8-13 record with a 4.17 ERA, 7 complete games, 5 saves, and 117 strikeouts over 179.1 innings. Still splitting his time between starting and relieving in 1963, his tally was 7-12 with a 4.94 ERA and 133 strikeouts over 149.1 innings. In the offseason Latman was dealt to the Los Angeles Angels as part of the deal that brought slugging outfielder Leon Wagner to Cleveland (Latman’s father-in-law, pharmacy chain operator Leon Schwab reportedly dismissed reports of the trade by saying “is that all they got for Wagner?”, which spoke for many baseball writers and fans, although first baseman Joe Adcock was also sent to the Angels}. He turned in a mediocre performance in 1964, making 40 appearances (with 18 of them starts) and producing a 6-10 record and 3.85 ERA with 81 strikeouts over 138 innings. In 1965 a sore arm limited him to 18 games, all in relief, and a 1-1 tally. Traded to the Houston Astros in the offseason, and while his ERA improved to 2.71 in 1966, his record was a lackluster 2-7 in primarily a relief role. Latman lasted one more season with Houston in 1967 and had a 3-6 record and 4.52 ERA in 39 appearances, all but one of them out of the bullpen. Finished at age 31, for his major league career Latman pitched in 344 games, with 134 of them starts and compiled a 59-68 record and 3.91 ERA with 28 complete games, 10 shutouts, 16 saves, and 829 strikeouts over 1219 innings pitched. With Cleveland he was 35-37 with 159 games pitched, 80 starts, a 4.27 ERA, 19 complete games, 5 shutouts, 12 saves, and 452 strikeouts over 652.2 innings. His lone All-Star appearance also came as a member of the Indians. Latman never appeared in the postseason. After baseball Latman had a home furnishings and drapery business and also worked in custom home construction. He died at age 82 in 2019.   

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Bill Bradley, 1903

Third Baseman, Cleveland Naps

Age: 25

3^rd season with Blues/Broncos/Naps

Bats – Right, Throws – Right

Height: 6’0”    Weight: 185 

Prior to 1903:

A Cleveland native, Bradley played pickup baseball in his youth. After his schooling, he worked for a stove company and played semipro ball on the side. In 1897 he went to Iowa and joined Burlington of the Western Association for 18 games in September. In 1898 he caught on with the Auburn Maroons of the New York State League where he played shortstop and first base. Shifting to third base in 1899, Bradley batted .312 with 25 stolen bases in 88 games. The team moved to Troy, New York at the end of July, and Bradley was sold to the Chicago Orphans (now Cubs) in August. Following an error-filled trial at shortstop with his new club, he was moved back to third base. He ended up hitting .310 in 35 games for the Orphans and, receiving a raise to $300 a month for 1900, he became the regular third baseman and batted .282 with 21 doubles, 8 triples, 5 home runs, 49 RBIs, a .330 on-base percentage, and a .399 slugging percentage. Jumping to the new American League with Cleveland in 1901 for $3500, he hit .293 with 28 doubles, 13 triples, a home run, 55 RBIs, 15 stolen bases, a .336 OBP, and a .403 slugging percentage. In the field, he topped AL third basemen with a .930 fielding percentage and 25 double plays while ranking third in put outs (192), which included a record seven in one game, and assists (298). A good hitter with some power and defensive skill, Bradley appeared to be very much a player on the rise. In 1902 he batted .340 with 39 doubles, 12 triples, 11 home runs, 77 RBIs, a .375 OBP, and a .515 slugging percentage. Prior to the 1903 season, Bradley rejected an offer from the New York Giants to return to the NL and was again a solid contributor for Cleveland.

1903 Season Summary

Appeared in 136 games

3B – 136

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 587 [12]

At Bats – 536 [11]

Runs – 101 [2]

Hits – 168 [5]

Doubles – 36 [4]

Triples – 22 [2]

Home Runs – 6 [7, tied with Harry Davis & Danny Green]

RBI – 68 [13]

Bases on Balls – 25

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 69 [3, tied with Barry McCormick]

Stolen Bases – 21 [19, tied with Fielder Jones & Nap Lajoie]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .313 [5, tied with Willie Keeler]

OBP - .348 [14, tied with Fielder Jones]

Slugging Pct. - .496 [2, tied with Buck Freeman]

Total Bases – 266 [3]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 23 [8]

Sac Flies – N/A

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 14, 3B – 6, HR - 2, RBI - 29, SB – 12, AVG - .290, OBP - .322, SLG – .416

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Most hits, game – 5 (in 5 AB) at Washington 6/9, (in 5 AB) at Washington 9/24

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

Most HR, game – 1 on six occasions

HR at home – 1

HR on road – 5

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 at Washington 6/9, vs. St. Louis Browns 8/26

Pinch-hitting – No appearances

Fielding

Chances – 487

Put Outs – 151

Assists – 299

Errors – 37

DP – 18

Pct. – .924

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The Naps (renamed for star second baseman Nap Lajoie) went 77-63 to finish third in the AL, 15 games behind the pennant-winning Boston Americans while leading the league in doubles (231), and batting strikeouts (588). The Naps (or Napoleons) entered June at 17-15 in the tightly bunched AL and continued to play well through the summer although they couldn’t keep pace with Boston and finished a distant third. Among Bradley’s 22 triples were three in one game against the St. Louis Browns.

Aftermath of 1903:

The graceful Bradley was notably excellent at fielding bunts and had an outstanding throwing arm. An aggressive baserunner as well as an adept hitter and fielder, he had another fine season in 1904, batting .300 with 32 doubles, 8 triples, 6 home runs, and 83 RBIs, along with a .334 OBP and .409 slugging percentage. He led AL third basemen with a .955 fielding percentage and placed third in assists (308). A stomach ailment led to an off year in 1905 in which he hit .268 with 34 doubles and 6 triples, although no home runs and his RBI total dropped to 51 and his OBP to .321. He remained effective in the field, again topping AL third basemen in fielding percentage (.945) as well as put outs (190) and DPs (17). Bradley missed half of the 1906 season with a broken wrist and hit .275 in 82 games. Afflicted by a bout with typhoid fever in 1907, Bradley’s hitting dropped off to a .223 average and a .286 OBP but he set a league record with 46 sacrifice hits, which he eclipsed in 1908 when he accumulated 60. Despite his lessened batting production, he remained a capable fielder. His average fell to .186 in 1909 and .196 in 1910, at the point he was released in August. In 1911 he became player/manager with Toronto in the Eastern League and hit .294 with 13 triples and 8 home runs. With the team shifting to the International League in 1912, Bradley guided the club to a pennant while also batting .292 with 17 triples. Following one more season with Toronto, he next joined the Brooklyn Tip Tops of the upstart Federal League in 1914, acting as manager and making a handful of pinch-hitting appearances. Bradley stayed with the Federal League in 1915, playing for the Kansas City Packers. While still capable at third base, he hit only .187 in 66 games. He managed in 1916 with Erie of the Inter-State League, his playing days now over. For his major league career, Bradley batted .271 with 1471 hits that included 275 doubles, 84 triples, and 34 home runs. He scored 754 runs and compiled 552 RBIs, 181 stolen bases, a .317 OBP, and a .371 slugging percentage. With Cleveland he batted .272 with 1265 hits, 649 runs scored, 238 doubles, 74 triples, 27 home runs, 473 RBIs, 157 stolen bases, a .317 OBP, and a .373 slugging percentage. In 1928 he became a highly-regarded scout for Cleveland until his death in 1954 at age 76, three years before he was inducted into the Cleveland Indians (now Guardians) Hall of Fame.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Harry Bay, 1903

Outfielder, Cleveland Naps

Age:  25

2^nd season with Broncos/Naps (first complete)

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 5’8”    Weight: 138 

Prior to 1903:

An Illinois native, Bay grew up playing sandlot baseball in Peoria prior to demonstrating all-around athletic ability at Peoria High School. Following high school he joined a baseball team that barnstormed through the Midwest. In 1898 he signed with the Peoria Blackbirds of the Western Association where, in 20 games, he batted a mere .167 but stole 13 bases in demonstrating his great speed. After playing in the Western Association and New York State League, he spent 1900 with Detroit in the not-yet-major American League. His hitting remained unimpressive but he broke through in 1901 in 61 games with Indianapolis of the Western Association where he batted .304 with 24 stolen bases and performed ably in the outfield. By midseason he joined the Cincinnati Reds where he played in right and center field and in 41 games hit .210 with a .275 on-base percentage. Released by the Reds early during the 1902 season, he signed with Cleveland, which had injury problems in the outfield. He earned the starting job in center field and hit .290 with 10 doubles, 5 triples, 22 stolen bases, and a .343 OBP. Nicknamed “Deerfoot” for his speed, he put together a 26-game hitting streak and led all AL center fielders with a .973 fielding percentage. Bay entered 1903 as Cleveland’s regular leadoff hitter and center fielder.

1903 Season Summary

Appeared in 140 games

CF – 114, LF – 26

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 637 [2]

At Bats – 579 [2]

Runs – 94 [5]

Hits – 169 [4]

Doubles – 15

Triples – 12 [10, tied with four others]

Home Runs – 1

RBI – 35

Bases on Balls – 29

Int. BB – N/A

Strikeouts – 44

Stolen Bases – 45 [1]

Caught Stealing – N/A

Average - .292 [17, tied with Jimmy Callahan & Lave Cross]

OBP - .329 [19, tied with Jimmy Collins]

Slugging Pct. - .364

Total Bases – 211 [13]

GDP – N/A

Hit by Pitches – 3

Sac Hits – 25 [4, tied with Ollie Pickering & Sam Crawford]

Sac Flies – N/A

League-leading stolen bases were +5 ahead of runner-up Ollie Pickering

Midseason snapshot: 3B – 5, HR - 1, RBI – 19, SB – 16, AVG - .287, OBP – .316

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 4 AB) at St. Louis Browns 5/4, (in 4 AB) at Bos. Americans 9/18

Longest hitting streak – 17 games

Most HR, game – 1 (in 5 AB) at Washington 6/8

HR at home – 0

HR on road – 1

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 3 vs. Bos. Americans 8/17, at Washington 9/25

Pinch-hitting – N/A

Fielding

Chances – 322

Put Outs – 293

Assists – 13

Errors – 16

DP – 3

Pct. - .950 

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The Naps (renamed for star second baseman Nap Lajoie) went 77-63 to finish third in the AL, 15 games behind the pennant-winning Boston Americans while leading the league in doubles (231), and batting strikeouts (588). The Naps (or Napoleons) entered June at 17-15 in the tightly bunched AL and continued to play well through the summer although they couldn’t keep pace with Boston and finished a distant third.

Aftermath of 1903:

Clocked at 3.5 seconds from home to first base, Bay earned recognition as the fastest player in the American League. In 1904 his batting production dropped to .241 with 12 doubles, 9 triples, 3 home runs, 36 RBIs, and 69 runs scored, although he again led the league with 38 stolen bases despite being hindered by a leg injury. In one July game against the Boston Americans (now Red Sox), he set a record with 12 putouts in a twelve-inning game. Off the field he earned recognition for his cornet playing. Bay rebounded in 1905 to bat .301 with 18 doubles, 10 triples, 22 RBIs, 90 runs scored, 36 stolen bases (which tied him for fifth in the AL), and a .349 OBP. He also suffered a knee injury that hindered him for the rest of his career. Limited to 68 games in 1906, Bay dropped to 17 stolen bases while hitting .275 with a .337 OBP. 1907 saw a further drop in his playing time and production and his major league playing career came to an end early in the 1908 season. For his major league career, “Deerfoot” batted .273 with 722 hits that included 65 doubles, 42 triples, and 5 home runs. He scored 413 runs and compiled 141 RBIs, 169 stolen bases, and a .328 OBP. With Cleveland he batted .277 with 64 doubles, 40 triples, 4 home runs, 137 RBIs, 165 stolen bases, and a .330 OBP. Bay played minor league baseball for Nashville of the Southern Association from 1908 through 1911 and then went on to be a player/manager with five minor league clubs through 1917. Returning home to Peoria he was secretary and switchboard operator for the city’s fire department. He also continued with his musical interest. Bay died in 1952 at age 74.

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years. 

Highlighted Year: Tito Francona, 1961

Outfielder/First Baseman, Cleveland Indians

Age:  27

3^rd season with Indians

Bats – Left, Throws – Left

Height: 5’11” Weight: 190 

Prior to 1961:

A Pennsylvania native, Francona starred in football at New Brighton High School. He also played American Legion, as well as high school, baseball. He turned down college football scholarship offers to sign with the St. Louis Browns out of high school in 1952. Initially assigned to the York White Roses of the Class B Interstate League, the 18-year-old outfielder batted a disappointing .227 with 18 RBIs and a .341 on-base percentage. Playing for Aberdeen of the Class C Northern League in 1953, Francona played first base, and under the mentorship of manager Barney Lutz hit .325 with 35 doubles, 10 triples, 6 home runs, 79 RBIs, a .413 OBP, and a .479 slugging percentage. Following two years in the Army, the Browns were now the Baltimore Orioles and Francona reported to the club’s rookie school in 1956. Having impressed new manager Paul Richards, he received a new contract and a spot on Baltimore’s roster. He saw regular action in the outfield and at first base and batted .258 with 16 doubles, 4 triples, 9 home runs, 57 RBIs, a .334 OBP, and a .373 slugging percentage. A victim of the numbers game in 1957, Francona was sent down to Vancouver of the Pacific Coast League and, after a short stay back in the minors, he returned to Baltimore and broke a bone in his left hand, costing him a month of action. Upon his return, he spent most of his time on the bench and in 97 appearances he hit .233 with 7 home runs, 38 RBIs, and a .307 OBP. Traded to the Chicago White Sox in the offseason, he contracted hepatitis while playing winter ball in Puerto Rico. It was further found that he suffered from a heart problem and had to receive clearance from a cardiologist to play. Appearing in just 41 games with the White Sox, Francona was dealt to the Detroit Tigers in June. For the year he batted .254 in 86 games with 11 extra-base hits, 20 RBIs, and a .350 OBP. During spring training in 1959, he found himself on the move again, this time to the Indians where he broke out by hitting .363 with 20 home runs, 79 RBIs, a .414 OBP, and a .566 slugging percentage. He missed time late in the season due to a leg injury but finished fifth in league MVP voting, although he lacked the necessary plate appearances to qualify for the AL batting championship. Having displayed more than the expected power while splitting time between the outfield and first base, Francona had another solid season for the Indians in 1960, batting .292 with a league-leading 36 doubles to go with 17 home runs, 79 RBIs, a .372 OBP, and a .460 slugging percentage. Defensively he spent most of his time in left field after having seen much action in center field in ’59 and appeared in 13 games as a first baseman.

1961 Season Summary

Appeared in 155 games

LF – 138, 1B – 14, PH – 8

[Bracketed numbers indicate AL rank in Top 20]

Batting

Plate Appearances – 667 [14]

At Bats – 592 [11]

Runs – 87 [18, tied with Chuck Schilling & Jim Landis]

Hits – 178 [4]

Doubles – 30 [7, tied with Rocky Colavito & Danny O’Connell]

Triples – 8 [4, tied with Norm Cash & Jim Landis]

Home Runs – 16

RBI – 85 [14, tied with Jim Landis]

Bases on Balls – 56

Int. BB – 3

Strikeouts – 52

Stolen Bases – 2

Caught Stealing – 1

Average - .301 [7]

OBP - .363 [18, tied with Bob Allison]

Slugging Pct. - .459 [20]

Total Bases – 272 [8]

GDP – 11

Hit by Pitches – 4 [16, tied with fourteen others]

Sac Hits – 12 [4]

Sac Flies – 3 

Midseason snapshot: 2B – 17, 3B – 3, HR - 6, RBI - 38, AVG - .297, OBP – .357, SLG – .424

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Most hits, game – 4 (in 5 AB) at KC A’s 4/23, (in 4 AB) vs. Boston 7/20

Longest hitting streak – 10 games

HR at home – 9

HR on road – 7

Most home runs, game – 1 on sixteen occasions

Multi-HR games – 0

Most RBIs, game – 4 at KC A’s 4/23

Pinch-hitting – 1 for 7 (.143) with 1 R, 1 RBI & 1 BB

Fielding (OF)

Chances – 298

Put Outs – 289

Assists – 5

Errors – 4

DP – 1

Pct. - .987

Awards & Honors:

All-Star

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The Indians went 78-83 to finish fifth in the AL, 30.5 games behind the pennant-winning New York Yankees while leading the league in hits (1493), doubles (257), batting (.266, tied with the Yankees), and fewest walks drawn (492). The Indians started well, moved into contention, and were in first place from June 6-16 before a seven-game losing streak dropped them out of contention. A rough second half, primarily caused by inadequate pitching, left them in fifth place and led to the dismissal of manager Jimmy Dykes.

Aftermath of 1961:

Playing exclusively at first base in 1962, Francona’s batting production dropped to .272 with 28 doubles, 5 triples, 14 home runs, 70 RBIs, a .327 OBP, and a .401 slugging percentage. Back in left field in 1963, his hitting dropped off further to .228 with 29 doubles, 10 home runs, 41 RBIs, a .296 OBP, and a .346 slugging percentage. Having fallen out of favor with manager Birdie Tebbetts, Francona returned to a backup role in 1964, batting .248 with 8 home runs, 24 RBIs, and a .361 OBP. In the offseason he was dealt to the St. Louis Cardinals. Utilized as a utility player and pinch-hitter, he appeared in 81 games and hit .259 with 5 home runs, 19 RBIs, and a .323 OBP. He spent one more season with St. Louis in 1966 with declining production off the bench. Just prior to the 1967 season he was sold to the Philadelphia Phillies where he lasted until June when he was dispatched to the Atlanta Braves. Appearing in a total of 109 games, mostly at first base and as a pinch-hitter, he batted .239 with 6 home runs, 28 RBIs, and a .297 OBP. Still a valued backup in left field and first base in 1968, Francona hit .286 with a .376 OBP while appearing in 122 games. He was sold to the Oakland A’s during the 1969 season and traded to the Milwaukee Brewers during the 1970 campaign, after which he retired. For his major league career, Francona batted .272 with 1395 hits that included 224 doubles, 34 triples, and 125 home runs. He scored 650 runs and accumulated 656 RBIs, 46 stolen bases, a .343 OBP, and a .403 slugging percentage. With Cleveland, where he had his greatest success, he batted .284 with 832 hits, 413 runs scored, 153 doubles, 19 triples, 85 home runs, 378 RBIs, 21 stolen bases, a .353 OBP, and a .437 slugging percentage. An All-Star only once, he did not appear in the postseason. Following his baseball career, he was director of Parks and Recreation for Beaver County, Pennsylvania and he was inducted into the Beaver County Sports Hall of Fame in 1978. He died in 2018 at age 84. His son Terry was also a major league outfielder and first baseman, primarily with the Montreal Expos, who went on to a successful major league managing career. New Brighton, Pennsylvania named its youth baseball facility in honor of Tito and Terry Francona.  

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Highlighted Years feature players who led a major league in one of the following categories: batting average, home runs (with a minimum of 10), runs batted in, or stolen bases (with a minimum of 20); or pitchers who led a major league in wins, strikeouts, earned run average, or saves (with a minimum of 10). Also included are participants in annual All-Star Games between the National and American Leagues since 1933. This category also includes Misc. players who received award votes, were contributors to teams that reached the postseason, or had notable seasons in non-award years.